Chapter 392: Does It Still Hurt?

Chapter 392: Chapter 392: Does It Still Hurt?

The very next day, Chou Rong sent over three Orange Rank males and seven Yellow Rank males.

"Bai Wanwan, the Young Clan Leader has ordered us to follow your command."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you all to come with me. We’re going to bring my cubs back."

Just as Bai Wanwan was about to set off with Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie, Chou Rong appeared at their door.

"I thought you said you were busy. Why did you come back?"

"Don’t go too far. If you run into danger, have them send word to me. I’ll bring the clan’s Beastmen over immediately."

"Okay, don’t worry. With this many Orange Rank males, there won’t be any problems."

Chou Rong and a few of the cubs escorted Bai Wanwan’s party all the way to the tribe’s main gate.

Bai Wanwan waved goodbye to him, then slowly walked off into the distance, escorted by Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie.

After a full day and night of travel, Bai Wanwan still hadn’t seen any sign of her Beast Husband and cubs.

She squeezed Zhu Xiu’s hand. "Do you think we might have missed them?"

"No. This is the only mountain range on the path to the Tiger Clan. As long as Yin Ze flies over with the cubs, we’ll know."

After speaking, Zhu Xiu glanced at the sky. "We can go a little further, but then we’ll need to find a place to rest."

They crossed a high mountain as dusk began to fall, the last rays of sunset gilding the edges of the forest.

Bai Wanwan trod on soft fallen leaves, the Tiger Clan Warriors handpicked by Chou Rong following close behind.

Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie flanked her, their sharp eyes constantly scanning the path ahead.

"Let’s rest here for the night."

With a single swipe of his claws, Yan Lie effortlessly cleared away the thorns blocking their path, revealing a hidden cave.

He ducked inside to inspect it. After confirming it was safe, he came back to the entrance to call everyone over. "It’s spacious inside. We’ll spend the night here."

Zhu Xiu led Bai Wanwan inside by the hand. The damp air of the cave smelled of moss.

By the time Bai Wanwan was inside, Yan Lie had already spread beast hides over a dry patch of stone.

"Wanwan, come sit here."

Zhu Xiu led her to the deepest part of the cave. As soon as she sat down, one of the Beastmen started a fire.

The firelight gradually illuminated the entire cave, lighting up the face of every Beastman present.

The Beastmen had already caught plenty of prey along the way and were now feasting heartily.

Yan Lie knew Bai Wanwan had a more delicate palate, so he had immediately skewered the most tender cuts of meat to roast for her.

"Don’t worry. Eagle Beasts can’t just show up whenever they please. Besides, with Yin Ze around, things are different from last time. If there’s real danger, Yin Ze is an Orange Rank male—he can get the cubs away first."

Zhu Xiu knew what she was worried about. He pulled her into his arms, soothing her fears.

Bai Wanwan toyed with his belt. "Mm. I feel much better knowing he’s with them. It’s just... I haven’t seen them in so long. I really miss my cubs."

"You’ll see them tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."

Just then, Yan Lie handed her the roasted meat. "Wanwan, you must be hungry. Here, eat up."

Bai Wanwan was indeed ravenous. They had eaten some game meat for lunch, but she couldn’t stomach it and had just nibbled on a few fruits instead.

The aroma of the roast meat now made her mouth water.

Everyone was exhausted after a full day of walking. Once they finished eating, the males leaned against the cave entrance and dozed off.

After tidying herself up, Bai Wanwan curled up on the beast hide blanket. Yan Lie slept on the inner side with Zhu Xiu on the outer, sandwiching her between them.

Perhaps it was because the stone beneath her was too hard, but she couldn’t fall asleep. She just lay there, listening to the fire crackle.

Yan Lie gently squeezed her hand. "Can’t sleep?"

"Mm, I’m almost asleep. Don’t worry about me, you should sleep."

Yan Lie was tempted to start something, but with a cave full of Beastmen, he could only behave himself and close his eyes to sleep.

He gently patted her on the waist, trying to lull her to sleep.

But as he patted, he was the one who fell asleep first.

Still too uncomfortable to sleep, Bai Wanwan turned over to face Zhu Xiu.

Zhu Xiu immediately opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace. He didn’t say a word, just held her silently.

The crisp, cool scent of him filled her senses, and her whole body began to relax.

Slowly, she was able to ignore the uncomfortable stone beneath her and closed her eyes.

The next morning, Bai Wanwan was awakened by the sounds of movement in the cave.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and all the males were already up. Only she remained nestled in Zhu Xiu’s embrace.

Bai Wanwan forced herself to wake up. "Time to go?"

"Yeah. Wanwan, if you didn’t sleep well, I’ll carry you. You can keep sleeping on my back for a while." Yan Lie immediately moved to pick her up.

"I’m fine. I’ll be wide awake in a minute."

The morning mist was just beginning to burn off as they set out.

The party of Beastmen continued their journey.

As they walked on, the sun climbed higher in the sky.

Bai Wanwan suddenly grabbed Zhu Xiu’s arm. "Wait. Did you hear that?"

Just then, a shrill cry tore through the sky above.

Bai Wanwan looked up just in time to see an Eagle Beast flying over the forest.

It was the saying made real: when enemies meet, their eyes burn with hate. Bai Wanwan wished her glare alone could shoot it out of the sky.

"It’s an Eagle Beast!"

"Don’t be nervous," Zhu Xiu soothed her. "It’s only one. It’s not a threat."

Yan Lie came closer too. "Wanwan, don’t you worry. Once we get the cubs settled and we’re fully prepared, we’ll go and wipe out that Eagle Beast nest."

As much as Bai Wanwan wanted to pluck their feathers and drain them of their blood, she knew it would be incredibly dangerous to let her Beast Husbands venture deep into the Eagle Beasts’ lair to fight them.

"Forget it. Don’t go to the Eagle Beast lair. From now on, if you run into one, kill it if you can. Make their lives hell, but you are not to go storming their nest."

Just as she said that, another shadow soared across the sky.

At first, Bai Wanwan thought it was another Eagle Beast, but as she looked closer, she saw that the creature flying so high and far away had fiery red wings.

"It’s Yin Ze!"

Yan Lie saw it too. He leaped up, landing at the top of a tree, and let out a mighty roar at the sky.

Yin Ze, who had been about to fly past, heard the sound. He glanced down and saw the familiar faces below.

He immediately banked his wings and began to glide down.

A moment later, the Phoenix spiraled down from the sky, crushing several trees as it landed.

"Wanwan!" Jin Yi leaped from Yin Ze’s back, sunlight glinting in his golden eyes.

Bai Wanwan stepped forward, placing her hand in his. "Thank goodness. You’re back safely."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the cubs on Yin Ze’s back.

"Mama..."

"Mama..."

The cubs were overjoyed, happily bounding over to her.

The youngest lion cub stumbled over, rubbing its furry head insistently against her leg.

Bai Wanwan smiled and knelt, her fingers sinking into their warm fur as she kissed each of her children’s grass-flecked little faces.

When she picked up Bai Xing, who was in his human form, the surprisingly mature young cub pursed his lips, carefully reaching out to cup her face. "Father Beast said you were hurt. Does it still hurt?"